Paper 2025/308 Original: eprint.iacr.org/2025/308 ↗
ChiLow and ChiChi: New Constructions for Code Encryption
Abstract
We study the problem of embedded code encryption, i.e., encryption for binary software code for a secure microcontroller that is stored in an insecure external memory. As every single instruction must be decrypted before it can be executed, this scenario requires an extremely low latency decryption. We present a formal treatment of embedded code encryption security definitions, propose three constructions, namely ACE1, ACE2 and ACE3, and analyze their security. Further, we present ChiLow, a family of tweakable block ciphers and a related PRF specifically designed for embedded code encryption. At the core of ChiLow, there is ChiChi, a new family of non-linear layers of even dimension based on the well-known χ function. Our fully unrolled hardware implementation of ChiLow, using the Nangate 15nm Open Cell Library, achieves a decryption latency of less than 280 picoseconds.
Metadata
- Available format(s)
PDF- Category
- Secret-key cryptography
- Publication info
- Preprint.
- History
- 2025-02-20: last updated
- 2025-02-20: published
- Short URL
- https://ia.cr/2025/308
- License
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
BibTeX
@misc{cryptoeprint:2025/308,
author = {Yanis Belkheyar and Patrick Derbez and Shibam Ghosh and Gregor Leander and Silvia Mella and Léo Perrin and Shahram Rasoolzadeh and Lukas Stennes and Siwei Sun and Gilles Van Assche and Damian Vizár},
title = {ChiLow and ChiChi: New Constructions for Code Encryption},
howpublished = {Cryptology {ePrint} Archive, Paper 2025/308},
year = {2025},
url = {https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/308}
}